Writing-tablet.



UNITED STATES PATENT v OFFICE.

WILSON E. RHODES, OF CORRY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F. M. ROWE, OF SAME PLACE.

WRITING-TABLET.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,376, dated August 27, 1901. Application iled January l5, 1900. Serial No. 1.472. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILSON E. RHODES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corry, in the cou niy of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Writing-Tablets; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which Io it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to writing-tablets; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the I5 claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a writing-tablet'from which a continuous supply of paper may be taken and of such construction that writing material may be held zo upon the tablet in such a manner that it may be operated upon readily by the use of only one hand of the operator.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 shows an isometrical projection of the device. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the device. Fig. showsasection on the line 4 4 in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 shows 3o the details of feed mechanism in section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 5.

A marks the box or receptacle into which the writing material C is placed. The cover B of the box is hinged to the box by the hinges A a a and is provided with the catch mechanism b. This cover forms the writing-board of the device. At each side of the cover are the ribs ZJ b. The cover B is of less length 4c than the receptacle A, so the small slot-opening a is provided between the cover B and the end of the receptacle A, through which the writing material may be passed. The writingmaterial O is preferably of the same width as the receptacle and entirely fills the space between the ribs b, so that a side movement of the writing material is prevented. At the upper end of the device are arranged the feed-rolls D D. These are journaled in the 5o boxes E E, which are attached at the side of the receptacle A. These boxes are somewhat thicker at the upper end than at the lower end and have a perforation e, through which the stem cl of the vdrive-shaft D is passed. A thumb-wheel d is arranged on the stem d. The end of the roll D extends into a slot e kin the box E, so that it has some vertical movement to and from the roll D. Above the end of the roll D' is a pressure-block e3. This pressure-block is arranged in a vertical 6o opening e2, arranged in the top of the box E.

A springe4 is arranged above the pressureblock e3, and a screw e5 is arranged in the opening e2, so as to adjust the tension of the spring e4. The paper is passed through the slot ce', over the writing-board formed by the cover B, and between the feed-rolls D D'. As used it can be fed up by the thumbwheel d'.

The advantage of this construction, so far 7 0 as described, is that the device can be readily used on telephones or where one hand of the operator is engaged. The rib bprevents any side movement of the writing material and holds it irmly in place. The paper may be moved up for additional matter by means of the thumb-wheel d without having a tendency of moving the tablet itself.

In order that t'he paper may have tension on the writing-board B, I provide the spring 8o F, which is secured in the under side of the cover B. The writing material C is' preferably arranged in the receptacle A in the form of a series of continuous folds. The spring F gives to the paper as it is drawn from the receptacle a tension, and this as the paper is drawn forward by the feed-rolls D D' holds the paper in close contact with the writingboard formed by the cover B. By placing the spring Fon the coverB, itis out of the way 9o when material is being placed in the receptacle, 'and by simply closing the cover the tension is applied.

On the upper end of the receptacle a fixed cover a2 is arranged, and on this are placed 95 two guides CL3. These guides have a small upturn, the purpose of which is to give the paper a slight upturn at the end, so that it may be readily grasped. By making this guide of less length than the entire width of Ioo the tablet a space is left in the upturned portion where the paper may be readily grasped by the fingers.

A cutter-blade G is secured to the boxes E and is arranged with its cutting edge on the top. Ihis construction leaves a loose en d to the paper extending from the feed-rolls ory from under the blade G after a piece is cnt oft' by the blade G. By this arrangement the paper can be readily grasped by the operator if it is desired to draw the paper forward without the use of the thumb-wheel cl'.

IVhat I claim as new isl. In a writing-tablet,- the combination of a writing-board; guide, CL3 of less width than the board, arranged to delieet the writing material from the plane of the writing-board; anda cutting-blade arranged at right angles to the writing-board and sufficiently above the writing-board to allow the passage of material beneath it, said cutting-blade being so arranged relatively to the board and guide, a3, that the writing material in its forward movement first passes said cutting-blade, said cutting-blade having its cutting edge along itstop.

2. In a writing-tablet, the combination of a receptacle for the writing material; a hinged Ywriting-board forming the cover for said ref ceptaele; means for holding the writing ma 'ferial on said board from a backward movement under ordinary writing pressure; and a spring-tensioning device secured to the nnder side of the board and in the path of rthe writing material as it is drawn from the reeeptacle onto the board when the board `is in position for a cover for said receptacle, said tensioning device being arranged to be carried out of contact with the paper in' the receptacle when the cover is moved to its open position.

3. In a writing-tablet, the combination of a receptacle, A, adapted to hold the Writing material; the hinged cover, B, for said receptacle, said cover forming a writing-board having an opening at one edge through which paper may be drawn from the receptacle onto the board; means for securing paper on the `board and a spring secured to the under side of said writing-board and in the 4path of the writing material when said board is in position to close the receptacle, and arranged to be carried out of contact with the writing material when the said cover is open.

4. In a writing-tablet, the combination of the receptacle A; the cover, B, forming a writingboard thereon; the spring, F, arranged under the board, B; the feed-rolls, D D', arranged to operate upon material in the plane of the writing-board; thumb-wheel, d',for actuating the drive-roll, D;`the cutting edge, G, arranged adjacent to said rolls, and a sullieient distance between it and the writing-board to permit the passage of writing material between it and the board, said blade having its cutting edge arranged along its top; and the guide, a3 for upwardly deeeting the end of the paper, said guide being of less width than the width of the board for the purpose described.

` In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

VILSON E. RHODES.

VVit-nesses GRACE P. BRERETON, ALBERT PoPKINs. 

